Black Hills Badlands and LakesBlack Hills Badlands and Lakes
This is the ultimate online vacation guide.
Custer
Flintstone's Bedrock City
Come see Fred, Barney, Wilma, Betty and Bam Bam at Bedrock city, where you can picnic at this attraction where the famous cartoon comes to life.
Jewel Cave
Here is the second longest cave in the United States and third longest in the world. On one of their many daily tours offered you will see calcite crystals and various formations.
National Museum of Woodcarving
Featuring the work of an original animator of Disneyland, carving studio, and a national museum.
Hill City
Everything Prehistoric
This shop includes a vast range of fossils, dinosaur bones, custom made jewelry, t-shirts, and more.
Hill City Slickers
Local entertainers who perform three nights a week at Palmer Gulch. Check out their website for a preview of their music. Then join them when you are here for a good time
and country dancing.
Prairie Berry Winery
Prairie Berry Winery has been producing handcrafted wines from fruits found native to the South Dakota prairie since 1876.
1880 Train
Take a vintage train ride through the Black Hills from Hill City to Keystone. Riding on this steam locomotive will make you feel as if you are in the 1800’s exploring the great American West!
Hot Springs
Evans Plunge
The world’s largest natural indoor swimming pool is fun for everyone. In addition to the warm natural water indoors, there are many slides, traveling rings, and an outdoor pool! Hot tubs, steam room, sauna, and fitness center are also available.
The Mammoth Site
Experience the world’s largest mammoth research facility and active paleontological dig. This paleontological dig was discovered in the 1970’s and now houses dozens of mammoth bones!
Wind Cave National Park
Known for its incredible displays of "boxwork", honeycombshaped calcite, that adorns the walls and ceilings. This national park is between Custer State Park and Hot Springs, and a great place to see Bison roam.
Wild Horse Sanctuary
Where the American Mustang runs free! This is located at the southern part of the Black Hills just outside of Hot Springs.
Keystone
Beautiful Rushmore Cave
Located a few miles east of Mt. Rushmore, this cave features many interesting formations and will be a cool break from the summer heat.
National Presidential Wax Museum
Beneath the watchful gaze of Mount Rushmore in the beautiful Black Hills sits the National Presidential Wax Museum. Visitors gain insight into our nation’s democracy through life-size, life-like wax figures depicting our country’s most shaping experiences in dramatically historical settings.
President's Slide
Take a ride to the top of this mountain and enjoy a scenic view of Keystone. Then, slide your way down these Alpines slides.
Rushmore Borglum Story
Enhance your Rushmore experience in Keystone, SD where you learn about Mt. Rushmore’s sculptor and visionary.
Lead/Deadwood
Adams Museum and House
Take a trip back to the old west in Deadwood. This museum was founded as a tribute to Black Hills pioneers.
Big Thunder Gold Mine
Take a tour of this gold mine, as well as pan for your old gold for a souvenir!
Black Hills Mining Museum
Learn about the Gold Rush and the history of mining in the Black Hills area. Visitors also can pan for gold and lean about the process.
Black Hills Presidents Park Sculpture Garden
Where history meets art and art makes history with its 20 ft tall statues of 42 presidents’ heads. Located just outside of Lead, this is an educational and art experience!
Broken Boot Gold Mine
Explore this authentic old gold mine where miners pursued gold ore veins with black powder and candlelight.
Homestake Gold Mine
Homestake is more than a museum, it is the oldest, deepest mine in the Western Hemisphere reaching more than 8,000 feet below the town of Lead.
Tatanka: Story of the Bison
This is the story of the Bison and its historic kinship to man. Kevin Costner opened this interpretive sited in 2003.
Murdo
Pioneer Auto Museum
Murdo's fabulous display of more than 250 antique, classic and muscle cars. Built in the 1950’s this museum is part of South Dakota’s history. In addition, it is conveniently located on I-90.
Piedmont
Beautiful Wonderland Cave
Two level caverns 60 million years old. A highlight is the "40-foot icicle fence."
Petrified Forests of the Black Hills
Learn Black Hills geology with an exceptional animated video, digital and graphic museum displays, and a five-block nature walk to the trees of stone!
Stagebarn Crystal Cave
Impressive one-hour underground tours in one of the three longest caves in South Dakota.
Rapid City
Bear Country
Drive through Wildlife park where the bears roam free. Twenty other animals also live at this large natural exhibit.
Black Hills Caverns
This cave displays a variety of formations and crystals. It is only four miles west of Rapid City on Hwy 44.
Black Hills Maze
Located on the way to Rapid City, it includes a 1.2 mile maze of walkways, bridges, and towers.
Chapel in the Hills-Stavekirk
This replica of the famous 850 year old Borgund Stave Church in Norway features unique architecture and intricate carvings.
Cleghorn Springs Aquatic Center & Hatchery
The Game, Fish and Parks Department raises trout and salmon which are stocked in the state's fishing waters. Enjoy a nature program, feed the fish and learn about fish management in South Dakota.
Cosmos Mystery Area
One of the select Family Approved Attractions in the region. It includes a mystery tour which will boggle your mind at these natural phenomena. You can roll balls up hill and stand on walls!
Dinosaur Park
Concrete monsters lord over a city in the Black Hills -- and they may rule forever. Generations of children have visited the hilltop Dinosaur Park.
Flying T Chuck Wagon Supper & Show
This traditional chuck wagon features a country and bluegrass band for your entertainment. In addition you’ll enjoy trying the tastes of the local cuisine.
Fort Hays
This is the 'Dancing with Wolves' film set as well as a popular chuck wagon dinner and cowboy music variety show. It is located only 5 miles west of Rapid City.
The Journey Museum
"Where the Spirit Lives" Museum that takes your through 2.5 billion years of history. It is made up of five institutions to provide five different collections. This is great for understanding history through perspectives of the Lakota people and pioneers.
Museum of Geology
This is located on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. It is free and open to the public. Exhibits include a vast range of fossils and minerals from around the world and Black Hills area.
Old MacDonald's Farm
Pig races, bunnies, goats on a bridge, and 100 other animals. This is a hands-on experience for the whole family.
Prairie Edge
Dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the Northern Plains Indians, this Native American art gallery features the work of American Indian artists throughout the region.
Reptile Gardens
Exotic flowers, native animals and incredible reptiles, you will not want to miss this impressive attraction. A favorite among locals, it is also world renowned for its dedication and commitment to reptiles.
Rushmore Waterslides
Located on the way to Rapid City, spend the day cooling off in their many great waterslides. There are slides for all ages making it the perfect day activity for a family.
Sitting Bull Crystal Cave
It is 9 miles south of Rapid City on Hwy 16 and full of Lakota Indian history. It also contains the world’s most extensive display of dogtooth spar crystal.
Storybook Island
Cinderella and all the magical fairy tales come to life here. This park of fairy tale characters is open Memorial Day or Labor Day and free for all. It’s a favorite among Rapid City residents and locals of the surrounding area.
Spearfish
High Plains Western Heritage Center
Live buffalo and longhorns can be seen year around on its pastures. A small animal farm is open in the summer as well as a fully furnished original school house. Open year round, daily from 9-5.
Matthews Opera House
The 1906 Matthews Opera House on Main Street offers live year-round theatre.
Sturgis
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
This year marks the 69th annual Sturgis Rally. Over a million motorcyclists and bike enthusiasts come to Sturgis each year to experience the famous gathering of bikers, bars, and concerts at the legendary Buffalo Chip.
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